Queensland’s “cultural superstar” – the 1500-seat Glasshouse theatre is set to open on March 7, 2026, making QPAC the largest performing arts centre under one roof in Australia.
The new $184 million venue has paved the way for QPAC to increase visitation by 300,000 people to 1.6 million visitors a year.
Visitors are invited to explore the state-of-the-art venue with a free community day on Saturday, March 7 from 9am to 4.30pm. Limited guided tours will also be on offer and must be booked (see details below). Audiences will also be treated to pop-up performances and the theatre’s two bars will be open.
QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy said the theatre was a “cultural superstar” which gave Brisbane greater capacity to attract world-class talent and Australian exclusives.
“This includes the global music icon Sting in The Last Ship – and it forges our reputation as one of Australia’s biggest and busiest cultural precincts as we move towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Ms Healy said.
Originally slated to open in 2022, it was designed by Brisbane-based architects Blight Rayner in collaboration with Norway’s Snøhetta, the Glasshouse theatre is considered an architectural feat.
Its iconic curved glass façade has been designed to reference the waves and ripples of the Brisbane River and is a nod to the flowing lines of theatre drapes and stage curtains.
Materials used in construction also take inspiration from the special characteristics of Brisbane. They include locally sourced grey Ironbark timber, green auditorium carpet that references the state’s rainforests, and gold foyer carpet and sand-coloured pre-cast concrete in a nod to its beaches.
In the external entry plaza, stands a four-metre-high bronze sculpture by Brian Robinson titled Floriate, which was inspired by Queensland’s native flora and its connection to First Nations Peoples.
Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek said the theatre was part of the State Government’s Time to Shine arts and cultural strategy and reinforced Queensland’s reputation as a cultural tourism destination.
Glasshouse Theatre’s opening season includes:
Queensland Ballet’s Messa de Requiem (March 27- April 4);
The Australian exclusive season of The Last Ship composed BY and starring Sting (April 9 – May 3);
The world premiere of The Drover’s Wife – The Opera (May 13 – 22).
The Community Day festivities are free to the public, but the limited guided tours must be booked in advance at qpac.com.au. Bookings will open from this Friday, February 6 at 9am.
